What temperatures can geraniums tolerate? Answering this question is useful to help you know how to grow and care for your geraniums properly.
Besides, the temperature is one of the necessary factors boosting the plant’s growth.
Yet, this is not easy since the multiple geranium varieties can tolerate different temperature ranges. So, it’s critical to know the proper temperature range to help your geraniums be thriving and well-grown.
Read on to get a further understanding!
What Are Geraniums?
Geraniums are popular plants throughout the South. You can easily find 422 species of biennials, annuals, and perennials widely known as cranesbills or geraniums.
They are also known as flowering pelargonium and add color and fragrance all summer.
This plant produces vibrant flowers and aromatic foliage, whether cultivated in a backyard garden bed, pot, planter, or container.
Besides, geraniums are tender perennials, which means they may be planted in locations where temperatures aren’t below freezing and as an annual in cooler temperatures.
This tree type is easy to plant and grows well in terracotta pots and traditional border decorations.
You can grow your geraniums alone in your garden or with other flowering trees, such as nemesia, hibiscus, and lavender. Also, a few geranium varieties are suitable for growing in hanging baskets.
What Temperatures Can Geraniums Tolerate?
What temperature can geraniums tolerate?
They may withstand temperatures from 40 to 75°F (or 4 to 24°C).
You need to consider the proper temperature range, including the minimum and maximum temperature your geraniums may handle, to keep them safe and healthy.
How Hot and Cold Can Geraniums Tolerate? Minimum & Maximum Temperature
The geranium minimum temperature ranges from about 40 to 50°F (or 4 to 10°C). Their flowers will begin to die and stop growing at this lowest temperature.
Also, the extremely cold temperatures cause frost damage and geranium death. Thus, you must protect your geranium when living in cold areas.
The best way is to use a shelter to hold them indoors when it starts freezing or mulch them by covering an organic layer such as wood chips, leaves, or coconut mulch.
Another method you can consider when living in a place with a cold climate for a long time is to choose and grow more hardy geranium varieties, such as ivy leaf – one of the varieties of geranium cold tolerance.
Besides, knowing the maximum geranium temperature is necessary to protect your plant from severe weather.
The maximum temperature that geranium may handle is about 90°F, or 32°C. Yet, you should let your trees thrive at a wide range of temp from 60°F to 80°F, or 15-26°C to keep them beautiful and healthy.
It’s best to bring your geraniums indoors to protect them from extreme temperatures when you live in too hot areas that are suitable for growing this species.
Or, you may also give them shade on the hottest days by covering them with a shade cloth.
How Can Geraniums Adapt to Temperature Changes?
These plants adapt well to various geranium temp ranges and climates. Generally, geraniums take around a week to get familiar with the temperature change.
Yet, how fast they really adapt to changes in temperature conditions will depend on the geranium type, temperature range, and how long it takes them to adjust.
One of the first elements you should notice to determine if your geraniums may acclimate to temperature fluctuations is the geranium type.
Geraniums include 4 main types with different adaptations to temperature change and various requirements for growth.
Aside from the type of geranium, the temperature range is another factor in deciding how fast your plant adapts to temperature change.
As mentioned, most geraniums may survive at a temperature range between 40 and 80°F.
The time length necessary for your geraniums to adapt to the change in temperature is also one of the notable factors.
Yet, how long it takes your geraniums to get used to the shifts in temperature will also depend upon each type.
What Are the Indoor & Outdoor Temperature For Geraniums?
Geraniums will require at least 6 hours under direct and ample sunlight daily. However, if your place’s temperature exceeds 90°F, you should plant your tree in partial shade.
But when living in an extreme climate, you sometimes have to bring your beloved plant inside and might worry about the indoor temperatures.
The proper temperature for indoor geranium species is 65-70°F during the day and 55°F at night.
Remember that if you place the pot indoors after the temperature drops below 45°F, the heat can shock the leaves and cause them to turn yellow and fall off.
Thus, move the plants indoors, especially at night temperature, before it gets cold.
This will acclimatize your geraniums and help avoid severe signs of stress if you don’t find a safe outdoor temperature for geraniums.
In case your trees still show signs of heat shock, take extra geranium care, prune them, and provide them with plenty of water and light until they recover.
How Do Environmental Factors Affect Geraniums’ Temperature Tolerance?
There are many environmental factors affecting the geraniums’ temperature tolerance. One of the first important things is humidity.
When humidity is high, geranium leaves will wilt, the soil can oversaturate, and lead to root rot. Yet, low humidity may make leaves on your trees dry and brittle, affecting the plant’s water-retaining ability.
Thus, keeping the humidity in the right range is ideal for geraniums to withstand temperature changes.
Another factor determining how geraniums tolerate temperatures is prolonged exposure to light.
Excessive sun exposure can damage geranium leaves and lower their ability to withstand temperature fluctuations.
But, insufficient light may weaken plants, lead to stunt growth, and reduce temperature tolerance.
The soil quality also decides if your trees can handle a wide temperature range. Poor soil quality will stress your plants and affect their ability to adapt to temperature changes.
Also, the water amount you give your geraniums will impact their temperature tolerance. Overwatering the soil will result in root rot.
Yet, too little water may put more strain on the plants, and they become more sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Are There Different Geranium Varieties That Can Tolerate Extreme Temperature Better?
Yes, there are. Knowing the more temperature-resistant varieties of geraniums may help you pick the most suitable plants for your gardens.
Besides, it’s necessary to determine their acceptable temperature range when seeking and selecting the best geranium variety for your garden.
The first geranium variety that is ideal for its resistance to extreme temperatures is Ivy Geranium. It is hardy to withstand temperatures of about 20 °F.
Also, it is suitable for dry, hot climates with temperatures up to 100°F. Ivy geraniums are a great option for locations with extreme fluctuations in temperature.
Another geranium variety that can bear extreme temperatures is the Zonal. It can handle both cold and hot temperatures. This geranium variety may develove at temperatures from about 20 °F to 90 °F.
The last geranium variety is the Martha Washington, which may withstand temperatures from 10 °F up to 90 °F.
This variety of geranium hardiness temperature is also drought tolerant and may be easy to survive with little water in drought times.
FAQs
How to Care For Geraniums During the Cold Winter?
To protect your outdoor geraniums from cold snaps, you should give them plenty of water, especially when growing in pots or containers.
Frozen, wet soil is less damaging to roots than dry soil since dry one deprives the roots of water and weakens the plant.
Besides, during light frosts, use “tents” from cardboard, newspaper, or bed sheets to cover and protect the geraniums from the cold weather.
Also, you can move your geraniums to a protected area, often a few degrees warmer, such as near the walls of your home.
Are Geranium Plants Frost Tolerant?
No, they aren’t frost-tolerant, so you should keep them away from extreme cold temperatures.
What Is The Best Time To Grow Geraniums For The Best Temperature?
The spring is the best time for growing your geraniums, though several newer varieties tend to be more heat tolerant.
If you cultivate these plants in summer, they may be more difficult to adapt to the extreme temperatures to grow best.
Besides, geraniums don’t tolerate temperatures above 90°F, so late February, early March, or May is the most suitable period for growing your plants.
Conclusion
What temperatures can geraniums tolerate? After reading the above information, you’ve got the right answer to this question.
Your geraniums may withstand the temperature range from 40 to 75°F. The lowest temperature your geraniums can handle is 40°F.
They may also tolerate up to 90°F as the maximum temperature. Yet, it’s great to ensure your geraniums are in the temperature ranging from 60°F to 80°F to keep them beautiful and healthy.
Plus, you need to understand the environmental factors directly affecting the temperature tolerance ability of your geraniums to give your trees the proper care and protection.
